PORT ANGELES — Tires on at least 27 cars were slashed last week during an overnight spree, Port Angeles Deputy Chief Brian Smith said.
Police on Saturday were investigating the vandalism late Thursday and early Friday.
Tires were cut between Water Street to the north, Ennis Street to the east, Rhodes Road to the south and I Street to the west.
“That’s a substantial amount of property damage,” Smith said.
Reports were concentrated, and flooded the department until 11 a.m. Friday, Smith said.
The Police Department received two additional calls on Saturday, but there is nothing to indicate that any more tire slashing occurred after Friday morning, he said.
There are no indications that vehicles were individually targeted.
Smith said the police have some leads but declined to elaborate in order to not harm the investigation.
Damage to the tires was primarily done on sides facing the street.
Windows on two vehicles were also broken overnight, although it isn’t clear whether or not the incidents are related, Smith said.
Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to phone the Port Angeles Police Department at 360-452-4545 or the North Olympic Crime Stoppers at 888-242-4442.
Tips can be made anonymously.
Crime Stoppers offers a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and filing of felony charges.
“Should the person or persons responsible be arrested and convicted for these tire slashing incidents, the total dollar amount of criminal damage to date would make these crimes potentially chargeable as multiple count Class C felonies,” Smith said.
Class C felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Tire slashings are usually isolated incidents. Smith said it has been more than a year since Port Angeles has seen a rash of them on this scale.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Reporter Tom Callis contributed to this report.
